Hypodermic injection apparatus



Dec. 4, 1962 F. B. s'rAUr-'FER HYPODERMIC INJECTION APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1958 Arr-7 I:

United States Patent .Olitice 3,066,670 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 3,066,670 HYPODERMTS INJECTHN APPARATUS Ferdinand B. Staulier, Lucerne, Switzerland, assignor to Stato A.G., Zurich, Switzerland, a firm Filed May, 27, 1958, Ser. No. 738,121 Claims priority, application Germany May 31, 1957 6 Claims. (Cl. 12S-218) This invention relates to a hypodermic injection apparatus including a spring loaded operating plunger and a replaceable ampoule dischargeable by operation of the plunger.

Hypodermic injection apparatus is known which has an operating plunger provided with a rod permitting retraction or" the plunger in order to recharge the apparatus. The plunger projects in the direction of its free end out of the casing, in loaded position of the plunger. The plunger projects a distance at least equal to the working stroke of the plunger. Due to its extended length the apparatus is inconvenient to carry and to use. A further disadvantage is that the plunger rod can be moved manually during the working stroke. This is not desirable in an apparatus which may be manipulated by inexperienced persons. Some prior known hypoderrnic injection devices require means separate from the apparatus for retracting an operating plunger into a spring loaded position. The necessity of using retraction means separate from the apparatus is undesirable since such means are subject to being mislaid or lost and may be replaced by unsuitable substitute retraction means.

According to the present invention, the apparatus employs a spring loaded plunger which is engaged by locking means in a spring loaded retracted position. The plunger is adapted when released from said locking means to perform automatically the insertion of the needle into the esh of a person and the injection of uid subcutaneously in optimum location therein. The fluid is carried in an ampoule which is exchangeably carried in the apparatus. A wholly concealed needle is carried by the ampoule. The ampoule is disposed in a cylindrical casing of the apparatus in coaxial alignment with the plunger which abuts one side or end of the ampoule. The other end of the ampoule is closed and concealed by a cap detachably mounted on the casing at the forward end ot the needle.

In an injection apparatus working automatically after release of the plunger it is essential to avoid the disadvantage of certain known apparatus in which liquid injection occurs simultaneously with the piercing of the flesh by the needle and in which the discharge of fluid occurs vproportionally to the advance of the needle into the flesh.

This disadvantage is avoided in the present invention since the relatively small quantity of liquid in the ampoule is mainly injected at the end of the piercing forward movement of the needle. Thus the liquid is deposited at sutlicient and proper depth below the skin.

In the present invention, the operating plunger is completely accommodated within the casing in ready condition for use. The plunger then engages the container of liquid in the ampoule on which the pointed, tubular needle is ixed. The needle is disposed separate from the liquid. The ampoule is disposed inside of a removable cap on the casing. The cap has a calyx-like form with an opening in its bottom or forward end for passage of the needle therethrough. The opening in the cap is closed by a penetrable stopper fitted in the opening and holding the forward end of the needle in partial penetration therein. The cap is so shaped and dimensioned that it can be used in detached condition to retract the plunger for manual resetting of the same in spring loaded position.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a hypodermic apparatus having a spring loaded plunger and an internally contained exchangeable ampoule, the plunger being positioned to eject a tubular needle from the ampoule and to eject iluid through the needle in predetermined sequence.

It is another object to provide a hypodermic apparatus of the character described with locking means for retaining the spring loaded plunger in retracted position, said locking means being manually operable to release the plunger.

A further object is to provide a hypodermic apparatus in which a locking means for a spring loaded plunger is releasable only by exerting pressure manually against a counteracting spring means.

A. still further object is to provide a hypodermic apparatus in which spring means is provided'to brake outward movement of the spring loaded plunger when released and near the end of its outward movement.

Another object is to provide a removable cap for an ampoule of a hypodermic apparatus, the cap having a tapered form and adapted for retracting a plunger against spring tension for resetting the plunger in operating condition.

Another object is to provide a hypodermic apparatus of the character described wherein the cap has a stopper retaining the pointed end of a needle, the stopper being penetrable by the needle upon release of the spring loaded plunger for ejection of the needle.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. l shows the injection apparatus in axial section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View with portions broken away, and i FIG. 3 is a top view.

The operating device has a cylindrical casing 1 which is partly covered by a milled tubular grip 2 made of synthetic resin, and is closed at its one end by a calyxlike cap 3 detachably mounted by means of a bayonet catch 4 and provided with an aperture 6 in its bottom 5. In the casing, a tubular body 7 is guided for axial displacement and has coaxially secured thereto -a hollow Iplunger 8 which projects toward the cap side, its projecting portion being radially spaced from the tubular body 7. Three leaf springs 10 are secured to a cylindrical part 9 of the body 7 for axially extending on the side opposite to the plunger through the aperture of a conical ring 11 which is mounted in the casing 1 to form an annular shoulder adapted to engage the free ends 12 of the spring 10, which ends are inwardly inclined for co-operation with the cone of the ring 11 and are bent back on the outer side to form each a catch for engaging the shoulder.

The casing 1 carries on its end opposite to the cap 3 an operating socket 13 which is turnable and axially displaceable and accommodates a locking and releasing device. This device comprises an assembling ring 14 having three axially extending tongues 15 the free ends of which are bent inwardly for connecting a locking ring 16, a cap 17 made of synthetic resin and a sleeve 18 extending axially into the hollow plunger 8 with the socket 13. A coil spring 19 bears with one end against the casing 1 and with the other end against the locking ring 16, Vwhile coil spring 2i) bears against the ring 11 of the casing 1 and the body 7, respectively, for operating the plunger 8. A screw 21 secured in the bottom 8 of the plunger 8 penetrates through the bottom of the sleeve 18 and extends coaxially therein over a length of a little more than the length of the plunger stroke. A comhead 22 of the screw 21 `and said sleeve bottom for 1? damping the plunger stroke shortly before its end. Tue other end of the Sleeve 1S is closed by a cap 24 pressed into the sleeve.

The circumference of the locking ring 16 has three equal recesses 25 equally spaced from each other and each having two portions which are different in axial width. Into each of said recesses 25 projects an inwardly bent lug 26 provided at the end of the casing 1. The breadth of the lug is a little less than that of each of the two recess portions, the axial width of one portion being just sufficient to receive the lug 26, so that practically no axial displacement of the locking ring 16 relative to the casing 1 is allowed, while the axial width of the other recess portion is such that the axial displacement of the ring 16 allows release of the leaf springs 10 from their engagement with the shoulder 11. The releasing of the springs occurs when the socket 13 together with the locking ring 16 and the assembling ring 14 is pushed against the effect of the spring 19 toward the casing 1, whereby the catch ends 12 of the leaf springs 10 approach each other radially of the casing at the inner end of the assembling ring 14 and are thus disengaged, so that the compressed plunger loading spring 20 will expand.

The injection ampoule which is exchangeably accommodated in the above described operating device comprises a cylindrical barrel 27 for medicinal liquid. The barrel is made of transparent unbreakable synthetic resin and has a head 28 wherein an injection needle 29 is coaxially secured. The needle projects on both sides beyond the head. The liquid 30 is confined within the barrel 27 between two movably disposed Vstopples 31 and 32. The stopple 32 is slightly spaced from the head and can be perforated by the inner tapered end 33 of the needle. The outer end or piercing point 34 of the needle sticks in a rubber stopper 35 which closes the muzzle of the needle as well as the aperture in the bottom of a cylindrical protecting sleeve 36 axially guided on the head 28 and enclosing the needle 29. The sleeve 36 has a contracted end behind the head preventing removal of the sleeve. For disposing the described ampoule in the casing 1 the cap 3 must be removed. The free barrel end projecting beyond the stopple 31 is then shifted upon the plunger 8 so that the same bears against said stopple. When again mounting the cap 3 it must be shifted upon the protecting sleeve 36 for being closed, whereby the stopper 35 projects into the aperture 6 in the bottom of the cap 3 and closes the same.

The hypodermic injection aparatus as described is' manipulated in the following manner: Either the apparatus is put with its bottom 5 of the cap 3 directly upon the injection spot on the skin or it is held in the hand tightly thereabove in such a way that the forefinger and the middle-finger bear against the shoulder 37 of the cap 3 for parrying the stroke reaction. Before this, the apparatus will be brought into ready condition by turning the locking ring 16 out of its locking position, whereby the narrow recess portions are turned off the lugs 26 so as to bring the wide recess portions in alignment with said lugs, for which purpose markings may be provided on the outer cylindrical surface of the socket 13 and the adjacent end of the grip 2. The socket 13 'can now be pressed down into the casing 1, whereby the inner end of the assembling ring 14 releases the leaf springs 10, 12 `from engagement with the shoulder of the ring 11. The compressed coil spring 20 is thereby released to expand. It pushes the tubular body 7 together with the plunger 8 toward the cap v3. The sudden thrust of the plunger on the stopple 31 is transmitted by the liquid 30 upon the stopple 32 which will be displaced toward the head 28 and perforated by the tapered end 33 of the needle. The thrust is then transmitted from the stopple 32 over the head upon the needle 29 which perforate's the unperforated outer portion of the stopper 35. Liquid can now issue at the needle point 34. Since the .liquid friction -arising in the narrow bore of the needle is considerable, liquid will lflow rather slowly, while on the other hand the thrust of the plunger 8 causes the Vbarrel 27 to be shifted in the sleeve 36. The wetted needle 29 penetrates very quickly through the aperture 6 into the flesh so that the main quantity of the liquid contained in the barrel 27 will be deposited in the depth of the`\esh to which the needle point 34 has penetrated. The injection of the liquid thereby occurs during the remaining stroke of the plunger 8 as the stopple 31 `approaches the stopple 32. Toward the end of the stroke of the plunger the head 22 of the screw 21 abuts against the damping spring 23 which together with the spring 19 brakes the stroke.

By removing the cap 3 the exhausted ampoule can easily be removed from the apparatus. Before the operating spring 20 will again be restored into loaded position and before a new ampoule will be mounted in the apparatus the socket 13 should be turned into locking position.

For reloading the spring 20 the cap 3 will be disposed with its large open end upon a base thus disposing the bottom 5 uppermost. The bottom is slightly countersunk and covered by a ring 38 consisting of synthetic resin, upon which the plunger 8 is placed with its free end 8 projecting out of the open casing 1. By depressing the casing the plunger 8 will be restored into its loaded position shown in FIG. l, in which the catch ends 12 of the leaf springs 10 pass through the conical opening of the ring 11 and engage its shoulder, thus preventing expansion of the tensioned spring 20. The new ampoule can then be inserted in the apparatus without endangering its internal sterility. After the cap 3 is closed the apparatus is again in locked ready condition land can be stored in such condition.

What I claim is:

1. A hypodermic injection apparatus, comprising a casing, a plunger slidably held and laxially movable in said casing, locking means releasably engaging and holding said plunger in retracted position, a spring mounted within said casing and acting between abutment portions of said casing and said plunger for forcing the latter away from said retracted position thereof, an ampoule axially slidably mounted in the casing and carrying a tubular needle, said ampoule being removably and exchangeably disposed in said casing, a cap detachably connected to said casing for replaeeably holding said ampoule in the casing, a stopper fitted in said cap and closing a leading end of ysaid needle, said stopper being penetratable by said needle, said cap being apertured to permit passage of said needle therethrough and said needle being xedly mounted in the forward end of said ampoule so that movement of the ampoule forwardly -will cause said needle to pierce said stopper, said ampoule containing a body of liquid, a movable stopple disposed in the ampoule at one end of said body of liquid remote from said needle, said plunger having a leading end -abutting said stopple for driving the same during an operating stroke of the plunger, whereby release of said plunger by said locking means moves said body of liquid to drive said needle through said stopper whereupon further movement of said plunger `ejects said liquid through said needle near the end of said operating stroke.

2. A hypodermic injection apparatus, comprising a casing, a plunger slidably held and axially movable in said casing, locking means releasably engaging and holding said plunger in retracted position, a spring mounted within said casing and acting between abutment portions of said casing and said plunger for forcing the latter away from said retracted position thereof, an ampoule axially slidably mounted in the casing and carrying a tubular needle, said ampoule being removably and exchangeably disposed in Isaid casing, a cap detachably connected to said casing for replaceably holding said ampoule in the casing, a stopper fitted in said cap and closing a leading end of said needle, said stopper being penetratable by said needle, said cap being apertured to permit passage of said needle therethrough and said needle being lixedly mounted in the forward end of said ampoule so that movement of the ampoule forwardly will cause said needle to pierce said stopper, said ampoule containing a body of liquid, .a movable stopple disposed in the ampoule at one end of said body of liquid remote from said needle, said plunger having a leading end abutting said stopple for driving the same during an operating stroke of the plunger, whereby release of said plunger by said locking means moves said body of liquid to drive said needle through said stopper whereupon further movement of said plunger ejects said liquid through said needle near the end of said operating stroke, said locking means including a spring catch, said casing having a portion engaged by said spring catch, said spring catch being movable radially inwardly in the casing for releasing said plunger, and a member movably disposed in said casing for disengaging said spring catch from said portion of the casing.

3. A hypodermic injection apparatus, comprising a casing, a plunger slidably held and axially movable in said casing, locking means releasably eng-aging and holding said plunger in retracted position, a spring mounted vwithin said casing and acting between abutment portions of said casing and said plunger for forcing the latter away from said retracted position thereof, an ampoule axially slidably mounted in the casing and carrying a tubular needle, said ampoule being removably and exchangeably disposed in said casing, a cap detachably connected to said casing for replaceably holding said ampoule in the casing. ya stopper fitted in said cap and closing a leading end of said needle, said stopper being penetratable by said needle, said cap being apertured to permit passage of said needle therethrough and said needle being xedly mounted in the forward end of said ampoule so that movement of the ampoule forwardly will cause said needle to pierce said stopper, said ampoule containing a body of liquid, a movable stopple disposed in the ampoule at one end of said body of liquid remote from said needle, said plunger having a leading end abutting said stopple for driving the same during an operating stroke of the plunger, whereby release of said plunger by said locking means moves said body of liquid to drive said needle through said stopper whereupon further movement of said plunger ejects said liquid through said needle near the end of said operating stroke, said locking means including a spring catch, said casing having a portion engaged by said spring catch, said spring catch being movable in the casing for disengaging said spring `catch from said portion of the casing, said plunger and said member each having abutment means thereon, and spring means disposed between said abutment means of said plunger and said member and effective only near the end of said operating stroke for braking movement of the plunger while liquid is ejected through the needle.

4. A hypodermic injection apparatus, comprising a casing, a plunger slidably held and axially movable in said casing, locking means releasably engaging and holdingsaid plunger in retracted position, -a spring mounted within said casing and acting between abutment portions of said casing and said plunger for forcing the latter away from said retracted position thereof, an ampoule axially slid-ably mounted in said casing and carrying a tubular needle, said ampoule being removably and engageably disposed in said casing, a cap detachably connected to said casing for replaceably holding said ampoule in the casing, a stopper iitted in said cap and closing a leading end of said needle, said stopper being penetratable by said needle, said cap being apertured to permit passage of said needle therethrough and said needle being lixedly mounted in the forward end of said ampoule so that movement of the ampoule forwardly will cause said needle to pierce said stopper, said ampoule containing a body of liquid, a movable stopple disposed in the ampoule at one end of said body of liquid remote form said needle, said plunger having a leading end Iabutting said stopple for driving the same during an operating stroke of the plunger, whereby release of said plunger by said locking means moves said body of liquid to drive said needle through said stopper whereupon further movement of said plunger ejects said liquid through said needle near the end of said operating stroke, said locking means including -a spring catch, said casing having a portion engaged by said spring catch, said spring catch being movable in the casing for releasing said plunger, a member axially movably disposed in the casing for disengaging said spring catch from said portion of the casing, said plunger and said member each having abutment means thereon, and spring means disposed between said abutment means of said plunger and said member and effective only near the end of said operating stroke for braking movement of the plunger while said liquid is ejected through said needle, a turnable socket disposed on said casing and operatively connected to said member, further abutment means on each of said member and said casing, a further spring located between Ysaid further abutment means on said member and said casing for supplementing the rst named spring means in braking movement of the plunger at the end of its operating stroke, said further spring opposing movement of said member in disengaging said spring catch from said portion of the casing.

5. A hypodermic injection apparatus, comprising a casing, a plunger slidably held and axially movable in said casing, locking means releasably engaging and holding said plunger in retracted position, a spring mounted within said casing and acting between abutment portions of said casing and said plunger for forcing the latter away from said retracted position thereof, an -ampoule axially slidably mounted in said casing and carrying a tubular needle, said ampoule being removably and exchangeably disposed in said casing, a cap detachably connected to said casing for replaceably holding said ampoule in the casing, a stopper fitted in said cap and closing a leading end of said needle, said stopper being penetratable by said needle, said cap being apertured to permit passage of said needle therethrough and said needle being xedly mounted in the forward end of said ampoule so that movement of the ampoule forwardly will cause said needle to pierce said stopper, said ampoule containing -a body of liquid, a movable stopple disposed in the ampoule at one end of said body of liquid remote from said needle, said plunger having a leading end abutting said stopple for driving the same during an operating stroke of the plunger, whereby release of said plunger by said locking means moves said body of liquid to drive said needle through said stopper whereupon further movement of said plunger ejects said liquid through said needle until the end of said operating stroke, said locking means including a spring catch, said casing having a portion engaged by said spring catch, said spring catch being movable in the casing for releasing said plunger, a member axially movably disposed in the casing for disengaging said spring catch from said portion of the casing, said plunger and said member each having abutment means thereon, and spring means disposed between said abutment means of said plunger and said member and effective only near the end of said operating stroke for braking movement of the plunger while said liquid is ejected through said needle, a turntable socket disposed on said casing and operatively connected to said member, further abutment means on each of said member and said casing, a further spring located between said further abutment means on said member and said casing for supplementing the first n-amed spring means in braking movement of the plunger at the end of its operating stroke, said further spring opposing movement of said member in disengaging said spring catch from said portion of the casing, and another penetratable stopple seated in said ampoule at a forward end of said ibody of liquid adjacent a rear end of said needle, said other stopple being penetratable by the rear end of the needle at the beginning of said operating Vstroke of said plunger for providing access of said liquid into the needle.

6. A hypodermic injection apparatus, comprising a casing, a plunger slidably held and axially movable in said casing, locking means releasably engaging and holding said plunger in retracted position, a spring mounted within said casing and acting between abutment portions of said casing and said plunger for forcing the latter away from said retracted position thereof, an ampoule axially slidably mounted in said casing and carrying a tubular needle, said ampoule being removably and exchangeably disposed in said casing, a cap detachably connected to said casing for replaceably holding said ampoule in the casing, 4a stopper fitted in said cap and closing a leading end of said needle, said stopper being penetratable by said needle, said cap being apertured to permit passage of said needle therethrough and said needle being xedly mounted in the forward endk of said ampoule so that movement of the ampoule forwardly will cause said needle to pierce said stopper, said ampoule containing a body of liquid, a movable stopple disposed in the :ampoule at one end of said body of liquid remote from said needle, said plunger having a leading end abutting said stopple for driving the same during -an operating stroke of the plunger, whereby release of said plunger by said locking means moves said bodyV of liquid to drive said needle through said stopper whereupon further movement of said plunger ejects said liquid through said needle near the end of said operating stroke, said locking means including a spring catch, said casing having a portion engaged by said spring catch, said spring catch being movable in the casing for releasing said plunger, a member axially movably disposed in the casing for disengaging said spring catch `from said portion of the casing, said plunger and said member each having abutment means thereon, and 'spring means disposed between said abutment means of said plunger and said member and effective only near the end of said operating stroke for braking movement of the plunger while said liquid is ejected through said needle, a turnable socket disposed on said casing and operatively connected to said member, further abutment means on each of said member and said casing, a further spring located between said further abutment means on said member -and said casing for supplementing the rst named spring means in braking movement of the plunger at lthe end of its operating stroke, said further spring opposing movement of said member in disengaging said spring catch from said portion of the casing, and another penetratable stopple seated in said ampoule vat a forward end of said body of liquid adjacent a rear end of said needle, said other stopple being penetrable by the rear end of the needle at the beginning of said operating stroke of said plunger for providing access of said liquid into said needle, said socket having recessed portions therein, said casing having at least one lug projecting into one of said recessed portions to prevent axial movement of said mem-ber for releasing said spring catch, said socket being turnable with said member to disposed said lug in another of said recessed portions and movable against tension in said other spring means to release said spring catch to permit forward operating movement of said plunger.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,179,560 Reed,y Apr. 18, 1916 2,762,369 Venditty Sept. 11, 1956 2,832,339 Sarnoff et al Apr. 29, 1958 2,856,924 Rockwell ,-aa Oct. 21, 1958 

